Machine for splitting pigs&#39; feet.



PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906..

a w. A. BRO0KS.'

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING PIGSF-BBT.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1908.

' '2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

plan view of the part shown in Fig. 3.

- UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BROOKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOROF-ONE-HALF TO MORRIS & COMPANY OF ILLINOIS,'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,.A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

I IVIACHINE FOR SPLITTI'NG PIGS FEET.

which pigs feet may be split longitudinally to prepare them for the market.

As is well known, pigs feet in preparing them for the market are split into halves longitudinally in a line continuous with the di-" vision between the toes, and this, so far as I am aware, has been usually done by hand.

It is theprincipal object of my invention to provide new and improved mechanism by which this splitting may be done automat-j ically; and to that' end my invention consists, generally speaking, of a traveling carrier provided with a series of longitudinallyslotted supports upon each of which a pigs foot may be laid and with knives carried by the supports in operative relation thereto and automatically forced down by the movement of the carrier upon the pigs foot, which is engaged by suitable holding devices upon the support. After the splitting is done the knife is automatically released by a spring, and the pigs foot is free to drop off of the carrier as the movement is continued.

As has been said, the device is peculiarly adapted to the splitting of pigs feet in preparing them for the market, and that is the primary object of my invention. My invention, however, may be used for other similar purposes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva, tion of the machine. Fig. 2 isa topor plan view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the table, the knife, and the cross-bar which Operates it, the cross-bar and a portion of the carrier being shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail, being a top or Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, being an end view of the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4 viewed from Specification of Letters *Patent.

Application filed April 2, 1906. Serial No. 309,459.

Patente'd'Nov; 6,1906.

; the-right. Fig- 6 is an enlarged detail,'being a view of one of the spring members of'the holding device.

Referring to the drawings, 7 indicates a frame in which are mounted sprocket-wheels 8 9, driven by the pulley 10, which is oonnected with any suitable source*of power. The sprocket-wheels 8 9 support a'carrier 11, which is composed of links 12 12 and crossboards 13, secured to the links. The carrier may, however, be of any approved form of construction adapted to the purposes for which it is designed.

14 14 indicate supports or tables, which are secured each to one of the cross-boards 13 of the carrier, preferably by angle-irons 15 bolted to the supports Hand to the crossboards 13. The support '14 is composed of two portions 14 and 14*, which are separated from one anotherby a slot 16, running longitudinally with the travel of the carrier and adapted to permit of'the passage into it of a knife, hereinafter described. The parts 14 and 14 are preferably cast, but may be, of course, otherwise formed, and are ,provided each at its rearward end-that is to say, the end'toward which the carrier travelswith end supports 17 17 a which extend upward and across a portion of-the rear end of the members 14" and 14 substantially at.

ably cast or formed integral with the members 14 14 of the holder, as shown.

19 indicates a knife, which is pivoted by a bolt 20 betweenthe lugs 18 18 in the rear end of the slot '16 and in register therewith.

21 21 indicate bent springs, the lower ends of which are bolted to the rear ends of the members 14 14 upon each side of the knives 19 and the upperends of which engage pins 22, which pass throughthe knives 19. The tension of the springs 21 is such as to normally hold the knives 19 in their open positionsas shown, for instance, in Fig. 3.

23 indicates a holder, which isformed of two pieces of spring material, preferably spring-steel, 23 23 The shape of these pieces is shown in Fig. 6. As best shownin and provided at the end that lies next the frontthat is to say, the feeding end of the machineeach with a point 24, which is adapted to engage with the toes of the pigs foot to be split in the position shown in Fig. 3 and as hereinafter described. The other end of the holder members 23 23 are bolted, respectively, to the end supports 17 17 of the table 14 upon each side of the slot 16, so as to permit the free passage of the knife 19 between them and down into the slot. It will be readily understood that being formed of spring metal the forward ends of these holder members 23 28*, which are provided with the points 24, can yield laterally away from the slot against the spring action when the knives are operated, as hereinafter described, and will return again to their normal positions, when the knives are returned by the springs to their normal positions after their operation. As is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the carrier is provided with a number of these tables, knives, and holding devices, which are carried by the operation of the carrier in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1.

25 indicates a cross-bar which is supported above the carrier by brackets 26, bolted or in any appropriate manner secured to the side members of the frame 7 at each side of the carrier and toward the rear or discharge end of the machine. The bar 25 is located at such a height above the carrier as to engage the knife 19 near its pivoted end, as is shown in Fig. 3, as the carrier moves the cutting devices along and as the knife passes under the bar 25 to force it down between the members of the holder 23 and into the slot 16 and in this position to permit the knife to pass under the bar. This position is shown at A in Fig. 1. beyond the bar 25 and is released from contact therewith, the spring 21 at once raises the knife into its normal position.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The carrier being set in motion, the attendant standing at the side of the machine toward its rear end places a pigs foot, with its forward side uppermost, upon the table 14 as it passes him and hooks the pigs foot upon the holder 23, with the pins 24 engaging the under side of the toe, one upon each side of the division between the toes. In this posi tion, of course, the division'between the toes of the pigs foot lies in register with the slot 16 and, of course, in register with the knife 19. The position of the pigs foot upon the table is shown at B in dotted lines in Fig. 3. As soon as the table carrying the pigs foot travels forward, so that the knife is brought into engagement with the bar 25, the knife is forced down, as above described, upon the pigs foot between the toes and splits it longitudinally upon the line of such division. The

As soon as the knife has passed forward ends of the holder members 23 23", which engage the pigs foot, yield laterally against the spring to permit the free passage of the knife between them. Having passed beyond the action of the bar 25, the knife, as is said above, is returned to its position, and. as the carrier moves on the pigs foot drops from the points 24- of their own weight and may be caught in any suitable receptacle and. removed from the machine. It will of course be understood that the attendant places one pigs foot upon each of the supporting-tables as it passes him.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a carrier and mechanism for driving the same, of a holder adapted to engage the article to be divided and mounted on said carrier, at spring-seated knife mounted on said carrier in operative relation to said holder, and means for operating said knife, as said carrier moves, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a carrier and mechanism for driving the same, of a longitudinallyslotted support mounted on. said carrier, laterally-yielding spring-holders provided with engaging points and mounted on said support one upon each side of said slot, a knife carried by said carrier in registry with said slot, and means for forcing said knife between said holders by the movement of said carrier, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for splitting pigs feet, the combination with a carrier and mechanism for driving the same, of a plurality of longitudinally-slotted supports mounted on said carrier, a laterally yielding sprin g-holder pro vided with an engaging point and mounted on said support upon each side of the slot, a spring-seated knife mounted on said support in registry with said slot,'and means for forcing said knife into said slot between said holders by the movement of said carrier, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for splitting pigs feet, the combination with a carrier and mechanism. for driving the same, of a plurality of longitudinally-slotted supports mounted on. said carrier, a laterally-yieldin g spring-holder provided with an engaging point and mounted on said support upon each side of the slot, a spring-seated knife mounted on said support in registry with said slot, and a stationary bar adapted to contact said knives successively as said carrier moves and force them successively between said holders and into said slot as said carrier moves, substantially as described.

WILLIAM A. BROOKS. Witnesses:

JOHN L. JAoKsoN, MINNIE A. HUNTER. f 

